Chapter5.
1021 Words
"Catch!"
My heart jumped at the command, at the same time, both my hands leaped into the air. But I was a second too late and more than an inch away from the ball that dropped speedily above me.
"Ouch," my cry broke out with the twisting crack of my ankle as I tried to save the second.
Deep baritone laughter rippled around me, magnifying the pain inflicted by the ball that just landed on my forehead.
"I didn't expect any less," Julian snorted.
"She will always be a good for nothing." Lucien seconded.
The weight of their scorn matched their heavy footsteps as they walked away, and my shoulders slumped in relief. It's been 4 weeks since I became their puppet and practically a slave to them. 4weeks of torture and ridicule, endured by this bruised heart of mine. Did they have a need to throw a ball at me? Absolutely not only that, they enjoyed my misery.
I could never get used to their cruelty or the pounding beat of my heart whenever they were close by. So their absence had become my greatest gift and the retreating sound of their footsteps right now brought me some peace.
"Poor thing. Only if you would accept any help."
I rolled my eyes inwardly at Eloise's voice and approaching footsteps. What does she want from me now?
"I'm going to ask you one last time, are you in or out?"
"In on? What exactly do you want from me, Eloise?"
I stood on my feet, locking eyes with the blondie standing before me on an akimbo. Her sharp golden eyes pierced through mine, invading my space and making my skin crawl. I winced and her sinister smile flashed.
"You can't survive here by yourself, sweetie. You mustn't let them treat you like the trash that you're."
She tried to sound sweet, but the venom in her words hit hard and lurked in her eyes. Of course, she couldn't pretend, even if she tried. She was evil and cruel and everyone in the pack knew it. Rumors had it that she instigated every servant's expulsion that had occurred in the past six months. Somehow, she had so much audacity for a pack worker. Her history preceded her, and I was far from falling for her antics, but one thing hung on: What does she want from me? This was her third attempt in the past two weeks and now it was worrisome.
"I don't need help and even if I do, definitely not from you."
"They love you, Natasha, can't you see that?"
Eloise's words brought me to a halt instantly and I froze. I had only turned to walk away.
"Do you really believe they can't stand you?" She scoffed, the type that could make one see how blinded they were.
"They want you as much as you do them. I mean you're their true mates, and you know what it means."
There was silence. Cold, deafening one that intensified the hotness I felt inside. Eloise’s cold hands coiled my wrist at that moment and I cringed, yanking my hand off her grip.
"Get your hands off me and mind your damn business!"
Her eyes narrowed in shock but only for a second. "10pm tonight at the cave path. There's something I must show you."
I shut the door of my bedroom with a pounding chest. Rage and frustration burned hot in my blood. Eloise...She had scratched a wound without knowing it. Or maybe she was very aware of what she was doing. I hated her for taking me back memory lane and hated her even more for getting me so intrigued, because right now, despite how vexed I felt, I couldn't help but wonder what she possibly had to show.
"You're not falling for this Nat, it's Eloise!"
I said aloud just in case my inner voice was too low for my senses. The cave path was out of bounds for all pack workers and at such an ungodly hour, only the heavens knew what Eloise had up her sleeves.
I was running down the rocky road to the cave house at 9:30 pm. Yes, me! But was I proud after I had defiled all odds and silenced my own inner voice? Absolutely not.
It was a windy night. The kind that unleashed the rogues and let their scents ride the storm in the wrong direction, away from their prey, never towards it. It was dangerous and I knew it. My heartbeat matched my frantic footsteps as I crossed the lawn.
Everywhere was pitch black with no sign of life. I shouldn't be out here. Realization struck me a little too late, and I turned around instantly to leave.
"Let go of me!!"
A voice cried and I froze. Eloise, I thought.
Two guards were dragging a figure on the floor, towards me. s**t. I quickly scouted behind a rock to hide.
"You're hurting me, let go of me!"
Her yell continued in her struggle. But the men were twice her size and certainly had strength that doubled hers as-well. While they walked past where I hid, I managed to take a peep.
Confusion replaced my fear. It wasn't Eloise, but a new servant girl that came in last week.
Their footsteps faded some minutes later, and I jumped out behind the rock. I couldn't be more confused at what I just saw and where the hell was Eloise?
I turned to leave, not waiting to find out but my feet hit a rock and I almost tripped over.
"Ouch"
I winced, searching the grass, but my eyes caught a thin rope tied perfectly to the small piece of rock. Without letting myself think, I followed the trail. My guts told me it must be Eloise doing. But what I didn't let myself do was contemplate if I should follow my guts or not, especially when it had to do with Eloise.
"What's this?"
I gasped, shocked at where the trailing rope stopped and what laid in wait for me. I could never have guessed what this was all about.
- Writer
